Sir Wilfrid Lawson or Lawsone (1545–1632) was an English landowner and politician who sat in the

House of Commons The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of parliament. ...

at various times between 1593 and 1614. Lawson was the son of Thomas Lawson of Little Usworth, County Durham and his wife Elizabeth Darrell, daughter of Constantine Darrell of Wiltshire. He was educated at

Trinity College, Cambridge Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1546 by Henry VIII, King Henry VIII, Trinity is one of the largest Cambridge colleges, with the largest financial endowment of any college at either Cambridge ...

in 1562 and at

Gray's Inn The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court (professional associations for barristers and judges) in London. To be called to the bar in order to practise as a barrister in England and Wale ...

in 1564. In 1591 the Earl of

Northumberland Northumberland () is a county in Northern England, one of two counties in England which border with Scotland. Notable landmarks in the county include Alnwick Castle, Bamburgh Castle, Hadrian's Wall and Hexham Abbey. It is bordered by land on ...

made him Lieutenant of the Honour of Cockermouth (Grand Steward of all his estates) and the Conveyor of the Commissioners of the Marches. He was

High Sheriff of Cumberland The sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or ...

in 1583. In 1593 he was elected

Member of Parliament A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members of ...

for

Cumberland Cumberland ( ) is a historic county in the far North West England. It covers part of the Lake District as well as the north Pennines and Solway Firth coast. Cumberland had an administrative function from the 12th century until 1974. From 19 ...

. He was High Sheriff of Cumberland again in 1597. In 1604, he was elected MP for Cumberland again. He was knighted in 1604 and in 1605 was appointed convener to the royal commission set up to govern the borders. He was High Sheriff again in 1606 and in 1612. In 1614 he was elected MP for Cumberland again. History of Parliament Online - Wilfred Lawson
/ref> Lawson died childless at the age of 87 years. Lawson married as his second wife in 1572, Maud (Matilda) Redmain, previously widow of Christopher Irton who died before 1567 and of Thomas Leigh of Isel, to whom she was heiress of his estates. When she died in 1624, she conveyed her inheritance from Thomas Leigh upon Lawson. In consequence, Lawson became the sole possessor of the Isel estates which he left to his nephew William Lawson son of his brother Gilfrid. This was challenged by Mary Irton, heir of Maud Redmain.John Denton (1887). Estates & Families In The County Of Cumberland From The Conquest Unto The Beginning Of The Reign Of K. James (The First). Kendal p47

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lawson, Wilfred 1545 births 1632 deaths 17th-century English landowners Alumni of Trinity College, Cambridge Members of Gray's Inn High Sheriffs of Cumberland English MPs 1593 English MPs 1604–1611 English MPs 1614